The Wolf of Wall Street

Stock market multimillionaire at 26, federal convict at 36, he partied like a rock star, lived like a king, and barely survived his rise and fall as an American entrepreneurial icon. By day he made thousands of dollars a minute. By night he spent it as fast as he could, on drugs, sex, and international globe-trotting.

Stock market multimillionaire at 26, federal convict at 36, he partied like a rock star, lived like a king, and barely survived his rise and fall as an American entrepreneurial icon. By day he made thousands of dollars a minute. By night he spent it as fast as he could, on drugs, sex, and international globe-trotting. From the binge that sunk a 170-foot motor yacht, crashed a Gulfstream jet, and ran up a $700,000 hotel tab, to the wife and kids who waited for him for at home, and the fast-talking, hard-partying young stockbrokers who called him king and did his bidding, here, in his own inimitable words, is the story of the ill-fated genius they called...The Wolf of Wall Street.

In the 1990s Jordan Belfort, former kingpin of the notorious investment firm Stratton Oakmont, became one of the most infamous names in American finance: a brilliant, conniving stock-chopper who led his merry mob on a wild ride out of the canyons of Wall Street and into a massive office on Long Island. In this astounding and hilarious tell-all autobiography, Belfort narrates a story of greed, power, and excess no one could invent - the story of an ordinary guy who went from hustling Italian ices at sixteen to making hundreds of millions. Until it all came crashing down.

I started listening to this a couple of days before seeing the film and after watching the film almost didn't carry on listening as I thought I'd seen the whole story. When in fact the true story is fairly different to the Scorsasee screenplay, it's a lot less glamorous and more a tale of caution - money really doesn't buy you happiness. However there are still the same hilarious moments you get to see in the film and more rip roaring moments which make you cringe as well as laugh out loud.

The narration is fantastic, really well read and although you should by all accounts really despise Jordan Belfort you can't help but love him in a weird way.I really hope that Audible record Belfort's second book Chasing The Wolf of Wallstreet, and soon- I can't wait to jump right back on the Belfort crazy train!

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Nigel

Warrington, United Kingdom

3/23/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"A self-congratulatory attempt at absolution"

I found this book engaging but ultimately unfulfilling. This book takes the form of a memoir that constantly grated on my nerves by how the author constantly bragged about his all round genius at almost every opportunity. The continuous emphasis on the obscene amounts of money that he made/spent were present on almost every paragraph, although this was something I should have expected given the premise of the book.

The author doesn't shy away from his tales of debauchery and depravity but there always seems to be an undertone of justification underneath which appeared to be an attempt at condoning his actions for one reason or another; even when on the surface, he's criticizing himself for the things he's done. After a while I began to feel complicit in indulging his "fake confessions".

At the risk of stereotyping a nation, Americans aren't usually backwards about coming forwards. In comparison, Brits tend to be a bit more self-effacing. But this guy took his self-promotion to a whole new level and had no shame in proclaiming his brilliance at every opportunity.

The narrator exacerbated my irritation with his overemphatic delivery of much of the dialogue in a tone that, in my opinion, was not what the author intended. I felt that he took on too much responsibility in "acting out the dialogue" and think that a more understated performance would have improved this book considerably. His characterisation of females were particularly annoying and sounded more mocking than anything. He sounded like a bit of a wiseguy himself and I half-expected a "bad-a-bing" to escape his lips at any moment.

All in all, the author tries to make us think that, despite all the despicable things he did and the way he made/spent huge sums of money over a period of years, he was basically a decent guy. And this was something I found it impossible to buy into.

Despite all this, the book held my attention to the end and I was keen to find out how the whole thing would end. Unfortunately, I got the distinct impression that he still thought of himself of an amazing individual even at the end.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Deborah

Barrow in Furness, United Kingdom

1/24/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Narration is Brilliant"

Where does The Wolf of Wall Street rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a very engaging story but the narration makes it even more so. However, some of the scenarios are rather lengthy, unnecessarily so in my opinion, and therefore my concentration started to wander in some places.

What other book might you compare The Wolf of Wall Street to, and why?

I would have liked to have been able to compare it with Bonfire of the Vanities but, sadly, this book does not appear to be on audible. I did have the book once but it seems to be missing now, unfortunately.

What about Eric Meyers’s performance did you like?

Eric Meyer seems to live this tale. So much so, he could have been the author! I shall be looking for other books he has narrated.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

matthew

london, United Kingdom

2/22/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"I totally loved it! Unlike the movie...."

What made the experience of listening to The Wolf of Wall Street the most enjoyable?

Jordan goes way way beyond excess in every way possible. However his character is portrayed in a way that is extremely likeable. In total contrast to the movie, which I struggled to get part way through, the audio book I listened to 3 times BACK to BACK (all 20+ hours)! I have about 180 audio books thus far, The Wolf Of Wall Street is my favourite.

What other book might you compare The Wolf of Wall Street to, and why?

I have not come across another story like this one. Eric Meyers is absolutely fantastic with his performance. Totally believable.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I can't emphasise enough how much I enjoyed this book, at just over 20 hours it takes a little more than one sitting. Though I sat through it 3 times in a row and it kept me happy for a couple of weeks.

Any additional comments?

I even purchased a copy for a mate who is off on holiday, for him to enjoy while relaxing on the beach. It is the first time an audio book has inspired me to do that!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Dinah

United Kingdom

2/21/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Jordan Belfort and his 'Plausible Deniability'"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would highly recommend this audiobook, particularly as the film, 'The Wolf of Wall Street' glamourises Jordan Belfort's story. The autobiography is worth listening to for the following reasons: it is brutally honest and yet funny; it is an education in greed, yes, but also in just how financial manipulation and greed was practised; it is a compelling true story, wonderfully told.

What other book might you compare The Wolf of Wall Street to, and why?

The story reminds me of the story in the film 'Goodfellas' which was based on the book by Henry Hill called ‘Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family’. This was also a story about financial ascent, descent and financial (and other forms of) corruption.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I enjoyed the scene in which Jordan Belfort comes to London to meet his British elderly aunt, who calls him 'love' and who agrees to become involved in one of his financial scams. This part of the story is wonderfully told.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

You cannot top the title of the film as 'The Wolf of Wall Street' but I would tag it with Jordan Belfort's favourite phrase, 'Plausible Deniability'.

Any additional comments?

Eric Meyers is to be congratulated for his wonderful narration. I really hope that Audible record Belfort's second book, 'Chasing The Wolf of Wallstreet' and that Eric Meyers is chosen to narrate this.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

ben

7/7/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Super listening"

What made the experience of listening to The Wolf of Wall Street the most enjoyable?

It was a great way to start my drive to work, the narrator was superb and really knew how to bring the story alive. It was loud very loud at points which really woke me from my morning dreamland. And then on the way home it was just a great way to relax as I drove across the M62

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jordan was my fav charachter, as well I suppose the book is all about him and his life, so it's him that you understand and relate to the most throughout.

What does Eric Meyers bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I think it's the way he reads the dialogue, It just makes the whole experience much more real, much meatier..

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes I laughed a few times throughout the book, A few gasps of I can't believe that came out too.

Any additional comments?

I've not watched the film of this book, so can not comment on that, but I personally seriously feel the read of this book is needed.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Andrew

1/26/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Truly fantastic, story telling at its best...."

Where does The Wolf of Wall Street rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best in my 50 plus library

What other book might you compare The Wolf of Wall Street to, and why?

The obvious is ."blow" with its authors recount of excessive lifestyle and heavy drugs use, except this is not your average drug story, it's so much more.

Have you listened to any of Eric Meyers’s other performances? How does this one compare?

This was my first, but I plan to seek out more

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many, each outdid the last.

Any additional comments?

If you only listen to one audio book this should be it!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Andy

United Kingdom

3/13/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"I feel wrong for just listening to it..."

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

The only people i can imagine enjoying this book more is those like the author who have no moral values to speak of and are just as self-indulgent and hedonistic and God-less as he is.

Would you ever listen to anything by Jordan Belfort again?

I would never listen to a work by this author again even if he handed me his considerable fortune.

Have you listened to any of Eric Meyers’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I thought that Eric Meyers did an absolutely OUTSTANDING performance; his command of various accents, cadences and mannerisms was the one thing that kept me listening, alas not until the ned of the book as I gave up with an hour to go. Eric, you're are amazing and I love your work.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Wolf of Wall Street?

This overwritten piece of junk should be cut entirely. I'll grant that the epilogue was interesting so maybe I'd keep that for the movie and maybe some of the bits that tok place in London as the locations were familiar to me but apart from that it would all hit the cutting room floor.

Any additional comments?

i am not afraid to read about he darker side of human nature by any mans, or to watch it in a theatre or on a movie screen but to wait 19 hours for the slightest bit of non self indulgent confession or cry for redemption sickens me. This guy appears to be reliving his sordid life and loving every minute of it and like a fool I thought I'd join him for the ride. Mr. Wolf, that's 19 hours of my life I'll never get back.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Bill

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

2/24/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Well theres twenty hours of my life i wont get bac"

I deliberately havt seen the film so i could enjoy the audiobook first. I just got bored by the war stories of drugs, whores and cheating. It wasnt that interesting after a while. More fool us for letting you rip us off again. EricMyres is an excellent narrator but his Duchess sexual baby voice just really grated. U can do better than this Eric

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

emma

Chippenham, United Kingdom

7/7/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"What a riot and so much better than the film"

If you could sum up The Wolf of Wall Street in three words, what would they be?

High, low and riotous

What other book might you compare The Wolf of Wall Street to, and why?

I don't think I've ever read a book that compares. He's the Wolf, one of a kind I would thinks!

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The tale of deciding to set sail with bad weather on the approach, I don't want to spoil it for those not yet heard this but it would be unbelievable in a fiction novel!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This book was at times funny, shocking, upsetting but most of all entertaining. Don't get me wrong - I would not wanted the wolf as a friend let alone an enemy but it is fun to listen to the story of his life with its mega highs and ultra lows. The film is a poor, poor version of this story so I was glad to have heard it first and I think if you are coming to it after watching the film then there is a whole load you have no idea of and will appreciate.

Any additional comments?

I loved it!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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